Producer, Winemaker, Vineyard
Written By: Brian Freedman on Wed, Jul 8th 2009
Ah, yes: These are the terms that are far too often used interchangeably and, well, incorrectly. This is a good time, then, for some clarification. Because they are not, contrary to popular belief, all the same.
Producer: This is the name on the label, and it essentially means the manufacturer of the wine.
Winemaker: The person who actually crafts the wine, makes the key decisions regarding the vinification of the juice, and is ultimately responsible for the finished product on a day-to-day basis.
Vineyard: The land where the grapes are grown. This is not necessarily the same as the winemaker, for many of them do not own vineyards, but rather buy their fruit.
Easy, right? And now you can make fun of your friends for using the terms wrong.
